Archived News for Engineering Professionals
The Queensland Government has released its Green Door policy which will see the state government agencies work with local government and referral agencies to accelerate the development assessment of projects that that demonstrate exemplary sustainability performance.
Features of eligible projects could include the delivery of planning and economic priorities in a particular region, a significant reduction of water, waste and energy, the creation of permanent jobs or the provision of innovative and effective sustainable transport options.
The Green Door policy is designed to reduce the time taken in the information and referral stage with added certainty upfront that the project will proceed smoothly through the process, allowing the delivery of sustainable projects sooner.
Woodside gas project in doubt
Woodside Petroleum’s planned floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project in the Timor Sea is under threat from a dispute with partners and the East Timorese Government.
Opinion: Our future in space
By Dr Steven Tsitas and Professor Andrew Dempster of the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research at UNSW.
Work starts on Australia's longest bridge
Construction of what will become the nation’s longest bridge has commenced in New South Wales’ Mid North coast. The bridge will serve as a bypass for a number of NSW towns and will serve to expand the capacities of the Pacific Highway.
Perth engineering firm bought by US giant
Perth based engineering services firm Proteus EPCM Engineers has been bought out by US giant Tetra Tech.
Details about Queensland Major Projects Office released
The Queensland State Government has released details about its planned office that will be responsible for streamlining economy building medium to large-scale development projects.
$66.5 million for solar research
The Federal Government has announced a $66.5 million grant under the Education Investment Fund (EIF) to fund ‘world-leading’ research that will assist in the construction of one of the largest solar power plants in the world.
Major restructure of NSW transport announced
The Roads and Traffic Authority and three other agencies will be abolished as part of the most significant restructure of transport in NSW history.
Solar roundtable focuses on large-scale projects
A roundtable day has been held in Canberra by the Federal Department of Energy, Resources and Tourism to discuss the future deployment of large-scale solar projects in Australia.
Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources launched
The Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) has been officially opened at the University of Newcastle.
$370 million for Bruce Highway upgrade
The Queensland State Government has announced it will spend $370 million to repair 116 sites between Rockhampton and Cairns after the damage caused by the spate of natural disasters earlier in the year.
Hays releases construction employment report
Estimators, senior contract administrators and project managers top the list of skills in demand in Australia’s Construction sector in the first quarter of the new financial year, says recruiting experts Hays.
Engineering and mining surge pushes WA to the top
CommSec’s State of the States quarterly report shows that Western Australia has the strongest economy in the country, propelled by a strong mining and engineering sector that has driven commercial construction and a vibrant export industry based on the mining and minerals industry.
Princes Highway upgrade contractor announced
Nace Civil Engineering has been named as the contractor to conduct the $62 million Princes Highway upgrade in New South Wales’ south-east.
Commercial fuel lines secured after Caltex confirms expansion
Caltex, Australia’s only listed refiner-marketer, has confirmed an $80 million upgrade to its fuel storage and expansion plans in South Australia. Caltex will aim to boost supply reliability throughout the state in a bid to support the state’s booming resources sector.
Mining and energy companies buy up labour
Mining and energy companies are hiring labour well before needed in an attempt to stave off effects of expected future skills shortages later in the year.
Smart inspection system aids plane safety
Engineers at Swinburne University of Technology have developed an inspection system based on artificial intelligence (AI) to detect and characterise internal flaws in composite materials in aircraft.
Hays releases engineering employment report
An increase in mining projects has fuelled demand in many engineering disciplines, according to a report released by recruiting experts, Hays.
Technology to cut auto fuel consumption recognised
A Deakin University invention that uses waste heat to reduce car fuel consumption has been recognised with a Gold Award by the Society of Automotive Engineers Australasia (SAE-A).
Geelong-based engineering researcher, Frank Will, received the SAE-A Automotive Excellence Gold Award from the Victorian Manufacturing Minister, Richard Dalla-Riva, at a recent presentation dinner in Melbourne.
The winning system invented by Mr Will and his team uses waste heat to reduce car engine friction by warming the engine oil to its optimal operating temperature. The prototype has demonstrated fuel consumption savings of more than seven per cent.
Car engines typically waste about 80 per cent of the fuel consumed, with only 20 per cent of the fuel’s energy used to drive the car forward and the rest is lost as heat.
Mr Will believes the Deakin system – which is tentatively named OVER7™ – represents a smarter approach to vehicle engine design.
“One of the most important features of our system is that it doesn’t have to heat all the oil in the sump. Instead, it heats the active oil in the engine lubrication system making the overall heat transfer process much more efficient,” Mr Will said.
“The system also has the potential to be retrofitted to existing engines and we don’t think it will require big changes to fit it.
“We also think the system will be suitable for a range of vehicles, including diesels, hybrids and alternative fuels.”
The research team is now working on further testing with car manufacturers and their suppliers to optimise the technology to best suit their needs.
World record for solar technology
Researchers from the University of New South Wales’ Photovoltaics Technology Transfer Team, working with solar technology firm Centrotherm, have achieved a new world benchmark of 19.4 percent efficiency for a mass-produced, crystalline silicon solar cell.
Defence Materiel Organisation head quits
Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) head Dr Stephen Gumley has announced his resignation, effective immediately.